The Kindness and Sternness of God
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Romans 11:11-24
11. So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 13. Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14. in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16. If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the richness of the olive tree, 18. do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. 19. You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. 21. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. 23. And even the others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Verse 22 is what initially jumped out at me this morning. In my NIV translation is states, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.” God has this amazing plan for all of us to be “saved!” The Jews were his chosen people -- for centuries! But they just kept distorting and perverting God’s word. They had turned away from the prophets of the Old Testament and created a religion that was full of ritual and rite and taught that salvation came through works. From that point of view, God does seem stern or severe--because we will never do enough to earn salvation--it’s just simply not humanly possible!
To those of us who have heard the Good News, the “non-Jews” who God has welcomed into his fold, God is kind. Kind to afford us the opportunity to be saved--not by our works--but by his grace. Paul is reminding the Romans that God has this amazing, intricate plan for man. Each of us is intricately woven into the plan with care and concern, tenderness and love. But if a thread breaks, or is of the wrong weight or color, it must be cast aside - so the tapestry remains strong and beautiful. I guess I’m really reaching for a visual here!
God chose the Jews a long, long time ago. They continually --even after Christ -- defied the word of God by placing man-made rules and limitations as the means for grace. And we still do that today, don’t we? Paul tells us not to get too cocky, though! Because the grace is not from us - but rather from our loving God, who graciously embraces us into his plan for eternity.
Paul contends that God wants us to become apostles, not only to the “Gentiles” but to the wayward “Jews.” In other words, we are to spread to Good News to everyone--and welcome the wayward back into the fold along with those who are “new Christians,” having heard the Word for the first time. All are a part of God’s perfect plan! He uses one man’s unbelief to prompt another to minister and preach to him. He uses on man’s faith to uplift and encourage one who sees only God’s sternness.
I hope today you find a way to minister to God’s fallen world--those who experience only his sternness. And that you rejoice in his kindness to us his beloved children as you share the Good News with everyone you meet.
Mary
